Four years ago, Walker Stapleton, seated, and J.J. Ament, were vying for the GOP nomination for state treasurer. Stapleton prevailed. (The Denver Post

Republicans Cory Gardner, who is running for the U.S. Senate and Treasurer Walker Stapleton, who is running for a second term, at Gardner’s campaign kick-off Saturday in Denver. (Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post)

Four years ago, Walker Stapleton and J.J. Ament were rivals running for the GOP nomination for state treasurer, but this time around they’ll be standing together on the stage at the Republican state assembly next month.

Ament will nominate Stapleton for a second term as treasurer.

“What better person to send a message of unity to our party than my former opponent who is now my friend, J.J. Ament?” said Stapleton. “I hope it will help the party unite because in the midst of a divisive race for governor, and a less divisive race for Senate I think our party is in deep need of something that can unify us.”

Finally, Democrats agree with Republican state Treasurer Walker Stapleton, who announced in a fundraising e-mail: “For the past three years I have fought your family’s freedoms, your prosperity and your community.”

Clearly, the word “for” is missing, which would have created a whole different message: “For the past three years I have fought for your family’s freedoms, your prosperity and your community.”

State Treasurer Walker Stapleton

Democrat Betsy Markey

“It was an unfortunate typo,” is the word from Stapleton’s campaign.

Meanwhile, Democratic challenger Betsy Markey’s campaign in January sent fundraising e-mails from info@markeyforcongress.com. She’s no longer a congresswoman, having been defeated by Republican Cory Gardner in 2010.

“Just a mistake by a new volunteer,” Markey said.

And voters of all political stripes alternately get a kick out of/annoyed by getting faux chummy letters from the opposition. Former Republican Gov. Bill Owens recently got one from Markey:

State Treasurer Walker Stapleton called on Democrats and his fellow Republicans on Monday to work together to make sure the state employees’ pension plan doesn’t go broke by continuing to promise more than its investment income can help cover. (Hyoung Chang/ The Denver Post)

State Treasurer Walker Stapleton is saying enough with the politics when it comes to pensions for state workers and teachers. Monday he sent a letter to Democrat and Republican leaders urging them to work together to fix Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association fund, which Stapleton contends is headed for a financial hole the size of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison — a Colorado landmark the National Park Service calls “deep,steep and narrow.”

The metaphor is mine, but it’s an apt description, given the past politics that created narrow solutions for the pension fund’s $23 billion-plus deficit, money needed to pay retirees over the next 30 years. At Walker’s insistence, the PERA board last month voted 8-7 to lower the projected rate of return on investments from 8 percent to a more conservative 7.5 percent. While it’s a step toward reality, it also will increase the projected deficit, at least on paper, since that estimate means less income from investments to help pay benefits.

Much more needs to be done, Stapleton said Monday, calling on Gov. John Hickenlooper and both parties in the statehouse to deliver meaningful changes to keep the pension fund from falling apart.

“It is my hope that I will be able to work with legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle and Gov. Hickenlooper to find a solution to fix our ailing pension system,” Stapleton said in a statement released Monday afternoon. “We owe our public servants, from school teachers to state employees, a sustainable and well-funded retirement that they can count on.”

The mere mention of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg incites Colorado Republicans so it was bit of shocker to see state Treasurer Walker Stapleton actually quoting the mayor in a recent press release.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at the opening ceremony of Four World Trade Center earlier this month. (Getty Images)

“Recently Mayor Michael Bloomberg publicly stated that an 8 percent return was ‘absolutely hysterical’ and even a 7 percent return is ‘indefensible,’ when the New York City pension plan was undergoing discussions to lower their expected rate of return,” Stapleton said in the release.

Michael Bloomberg! New York City! What was the Republican state treasurer thinking? Didn’t he get the memo about vilifying Bloomberg 24-7?

UPDATE: Liz Cheney will be in Denver Wednesday for a fundraiser earlier in the day that is separate from the Colorado GOP fundraiser at the Athletic Club.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney will headline a Colorado GOP fundraiser next week in Denver.

The event, which will be held at the Denver Athletic Club Nov. 20, is set to feature a slew of honorary hosts. Among them will be U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman and his wife Cynthia, U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, Secretary of State Scott Gessler, state Treasurer Walker Stapleton and Attorney General John Suthers.

For $5,000 attendees can mingle at a VIP reception, receive a photo with Cheney and extra tickets to the dinner where the former vice president will speak. And, on the low-end, for $200 guests can attend just the dinner.

Unlike former President George W. Bush, since leaving the White House in 2009, Cheney has been a vocal critic of President Barack Obama’s administration. And a new book, “Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House” by The New York Times’ Peter Baker, gives a detailed look inside the Bush administration and reveals what is now a strained relationship between the former president and vice president.

Cheney’s daughter, Liz, is currently engaged in a bitter Wyoming Republican primary, where he she is challenging longtime GOP U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi.

“We’re excited and honored to have Vice President Cheney at our last major event of the year. This fundraiser will cap-off an exciting year for Colorado Republicans, and provide some of the financial support necessary to defeat Gov. John Hickenlooper and Sen. Mark Udall in 2014,” Owen Loftus, spokesman for the Colorado GOP, said in a statement.

Mark Baisley, the new vice chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, and former Rep. Cindy Acree of Aurora. (Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post)

Douglas County Republican Mark Bailey was elected vice chairman of the state GOP during a meeting today that saw little fireworks despite earlier threats.

Baisley will replace Don Yetterberg, who has resigned to run against Congressman Ed Perlmutter, a Jefferson County Democrat.

Many of today’s speakers blasted Democrats for their “overreach” during the 2013 session, and expressed optimism about next year’s election.

“The Democrats went too far, too far to the left of the majority of Coloradans and their approval ratings show it,” Republican Attorney General John Suthers said, adding the recent recall of two Democratic senators for their support of gun control reflects the overreach.

“2014 could be a very good year for Republicans, but it is only going to be a good year for Republicans if we as a party elect candidates that can win. And that’s our job … to pick out the candidates that can stand the heat of the battle,” said Suthers, who is term limited next year.

If either state Sen. Greg Brophy or Secretary of State Scott Gessler becomes governor in 2015 they would on Day 1 sign an order authorizing the execution of death row inmate Nathan Dunlap and rescind an executive order allowing state workers to unionize.

Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, and Secretary of State Scott Gessler, on the floor of the Senate as a marathon debate over guns is about to begin in the 2013 session. (Photo By Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post)

But the two Republicans disagreed on the third thing they would do on their first day in office.

“I will stop taxpayer funding for abortions,” Brophy said.

“I will propose a broad economic package that will reduce regulations and some of the unfair taxes we have here in the state of Colorado to get this economy going,” Gessler said.

During the Lincoln Club of Colorado’s summer barbeque Wednesday night, Brophy and Gessler hammered Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, who is up for reelection next year. They said he lacks leadership and vision and is following the lead of a way-too-liberal legislature.

“I sometimes call him ‘Gov. Jellyfish,'” Gessler said.

Hickenlooper spokesman Eric Brown said the governor has a strong record, but it’s too early to “engage in tit for tat.”

UPDATE:Was just asked why I didn’t highlight John Elway on the campaign team. I said I thought having JJ was more important!

State Treasurer Walker Stapleton testifies about pensions plans before a U.S. House subcommittee.

Treasurer Walker Stapleton today announced he is seeking a second term and has the backing of some of the state’s best-known bold faced names, from attorney Norm Brownstein to finance guy Blair Richardson, who was heavily involved in Democrat John Hickenlooper’s 2010 gubernatorial bid.

Among Stapleton’s supporters: JJ Ament, who was one of three Republicans running for state treasurer in 2010. Stapleton beat Ament in the GOP primary, then unseated Democrat Cary Kennedy in November.

The honorary co-chairs of his campaign are former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown, former Gov. Bill Owens and Attorney General John Suthers. You can check out the rest of the campaign team at Stapleton’s website.

And then there were two: Broomfield Mayor Patrick Quinn today announced he is vying for the Democratic nomination for treasurer, as is former Congresswoman Betsy Markey, who is holding a press conference on the west steps of the state Capitol at 10:30 this morning.

The winner of the June 2014 primary will take on Republican Walker Stapleton, who is seeking a second term.

Quinn made his announcement via a press release that said his career in public service was launched when he fought to maintain open space in Broomfield. A certified public accountant, he ran a small business for more than 20 years. He and his family have lived in Broomfield since 1981.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.